SHYLOCK The Merchant of Venice By Alfred de Vigny

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A thing as harsh, as black, as perverse As his heart? Cease then, and I beg you, Begging him further is an insult to me. Allow me firmly, and as it suits me To deliver the Jew all of myself that's coming to him. (uncovering his breast) SHYLOCK The Merchant of Venice By Alfred de Vigny BASSANIO: (aside to the Jew) For three thousand ducats I'll give you six thousand. SHYLOCK: (to Bassanio) You can shake your purse, it's quite useless; Were each of your six thousand ducats broken And divided by the holy prophet into six parts And each part was a ducat, little matter to me. As for me, I intend to receive what my note bears. DOGE: How can you hope for mercy, o you Who don't know how to give it? SHYLOCK: And as for me, what have I to fear On the day of Judgement? Am I doing wrong to anyone? I'm not getting carried away like they are, I'm reasoning. Don't all of you have here, in your palace, Slaves treated as if they are your mules, Your donkeys, your horses? These unfortunate slaves Are employed by you in things most vile? If I came to say to you “Eh! why these burdens Breaking the backs of so many bent men? Give them good beds, and in your family They will dine in common! Let them marry your daughters!” You would reply to me “There men belong to us, We paid for them.” I say as much to you. Deliver his flesh to me, I paid him very well for it. I demand that it be by you yourself granted. (with fury, shouts, distraction, striking his cane) I wish it! Shame on you! Shame on your feeble laws! If you refuse me I will shout from the rooftops That there is no more honor in the Venetian Senate. Shall I have justice, at last, which is promised me? Shall I have it? SCENE II 49
SHYLOCK The Merchant of Venice By Alfred de Vigny THE DOGE: (to his court) Lords, my power authorizes me To delay the court until a better time. I am waiting to judge this Jew, who is insulting us, for The arrival of Bellario, a wise jurist. I've asked him to resolve this. AN OFFICER: Lord, an envoy has just come here from Padua Who is brining news even of Bellario. DOGE: Give them; I love to see judges so faithful To the promises they have made. Let him enter. BASSANIO: (aside to Antonio) Hope. Come on, Courage in these lengthy and bloody debates The Jew will have my flesh, my blood, my bones and my life Before having a drop ravished from your veins, Spilled because of me from your generous breast. ANTONIO: All sometimes wish that some one would die for them. I am the sheep marked and the scape goat. When the fruit is too ripe, its fall is necessary. Allow me then to fall. I confide myself to God. Live and compose my epitaph. Goodbye. (Enter Nerissa disguised as a lawyer's clerk.) DOGE: (to Nerissa) You are coming from Padua? NERISSA: Yes, Lord, and I left Bellario. I have an order for you and I'm discharging myself of it. (She delivers her letters and speaks low to the Doge. During this time, Shylock whets his knife on the sole of his show, putting one knee to the ground.) SCENE II 50
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Page 20 and 21: That you lock all my doors tonight;
Page 60 and 61: Arrive sadly, replacing their good
Page 62 and 63: At least three times the sum shown
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SHYLOCK The Merchant of Venice By Alfred de Vigny

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